Top 10 things to do in Disneyland Paris

Ok let’s get real here, who doesn’t love Disney? Even the most cynical of adults will sit through one of the classics with their kids and sing-a-long to the catchy tunes. For you hard-core Disney fans, imagine your happiness watching a Disney movie and multiple that by a thousand and you get close to how happy you’ll be exploring an entire themed land my Disney-lovin’ friends!

But for those only visiting for a day or two you might worry about getting round everything as there is a lot to see and do in both parts, the Disney Park and Disney Studios. I’ve comprised my top 10 things to do in Disneyland Paris to help you get a feel for the place before you go but also make sure you don’t miss the best bits whilst you’re caught up in all the excitement :)

1) Disney Parade

The daily Disney Parade is a series of themed floats that feature all the different Disney characters. It’s about 20 minutes long and starts at 5pm, so make sure you’re on time to get a good spot to watch it. You’ll see all the old favourites, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King as well as the newer characters from films like Frozen. Try to get a spot on an outer curve, you’ll get a better view without people leaning out and blocking you as the floats are arriving.

Image courtesy of www.dlptoday.com

2) Sleeping Beauty’s Castle

Rising high in the sky at the end of Main Street, U.S.A is Sleeping Beauty’s Castle welcoming you to Disneyland. Sleeping Beauty’s Castle may not be a ride, or seem like much of an attraction, but it has become an icon not just of the Disneyland Park, but of Disney as a whole.

If you’re worried about time it only takes about 15 minutes to have a walk around inside and on the upper floors, there’s even a good photo op from the balcony looking out onto Fantasy Land if you’re up for it ;) Don’t forget to check out the life sized sleeping dragon that occasionally awakens, puffs smoke and roars, underneath the main Castle entrance.

Aurora are you home?

Don’t forget the Dragon underneath the Castle!

3) Disney Dreams Night Show

Not only is it a pretty Castle by day, at night Disneyland uses it as a projection canvas for the Disney Dreams Night Show and it’s amazing! This explosion of light and colour follows the adventures of Peter Pan’s shadow as he weaves his way between classic Disney tales, dashing through incredible lasers, fantastic fountains and peaking in an extraordinary fireworks finale. Everything is designed around the shape of the castle so beautifully that you won’t be able to take your eyes off it. The show is hard to miss as it comes on as the park is closing every evening.

Finale of the Night Show

4) Space Mountain

Journey on a rocket into Outer Space (well sort of!) and take a mission on Space Mountain Mission 2. In all seriousness, this is one of the best rides at Disneyland Paris! Based on the Jules Vern novel “From the Earth to the Moon”, the ride catapults you into darkness and whizzes you past shooting stars and celestial satellites at a speed of 56 km per hour. Not to be missed.

Image courtesy of www.imgkid.com

Image courtesy of www.dlp.info

5) The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

The Tower of Terror, stands at nearly 200 feet and features several fast drops. The ride which is based on the TV anthology series, the Twilight Zone, takes place in the fictional Hollywood Tower Hotel in Hollywood, California. Riders make their way through the main reception of the hotel and to the back of a more gloomy basement, where they are shuffled into a seemingly ordinary hotel service lift. Once in the lift, riders are transported from level to level being shown a brief back story in which people mysteriously disappeared from a hotel elevator under the influence of some supernatural element. The lift doors open right at the top before it drops and although you get a gorgeous view of the whole of Disneyland, your stomach will be up in your throat so you won’t appreciate it at first! So be sure to give Tower of Terror a few goes.

Tower of Terror

6) Animagique Show

Join Donald Duck and a colourful cast of characters for a live celebration of some of Disney’s classics. Featuring fluorescent paints, flying puppets and UV lights that bring to life Donald’s adventure in Animagique along with all your favourite Disney songs. The show is partly in French and partly in English but it won’t matter, you’ll get the gist by following the pantomime movements and funny skits. Located at Disney Studios, Animagique runs a few shows a day so double check timings when you get there so you don’t miss out.

Image courtesy of www.disneylandparis.es

Image courtesy of www.disneylandparis.es

7) Toy Story Land

I can’t single out one ride is Toy Story Land, the whole place is a must-see! If you’re a lover of Toy Story as I am you’ll absolutely love it here. Based in Disneyland Studios, it’s a mini theme park all on it’s own featuring rides all themed around Andy’s toys from the movies. There’s an RC ride where you go racing from side to side high up on a track, an army man ride which takes you up where you can see the entire park in a parachute and a gentle (but still fun) Slinky ride where riders get on as he chases his tail. Not to mention all the characters to pose with! The detail in Toy Story Land based on the movies are incredible, everything is sized like you are a toy yourself, one that all the family will enjoy.

Image courtesy of www.wdwnt.com

8) Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

Located on the backlot section of the park next to Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster accelerates from 0 to 57 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds making it the fastest ride at Disneyland Paris. Riders experience 4.5 G as they enter the first inversion (more than an astronaut does on a Space Shuttle launch!). After the initial acceleration, the ride boasts a smoother, less jerkier and uncomfortable coaster experience than some similar extreme roller coasters, plus you get to listen to Aerosmith’s greatest hits whilst you go round the loops. The line moves pretty quickly on this one too which is a bonus!

Image courtesy of www.disneygazette.fr

Image courtesy of www.coastergallery.com

9) Crush’s Coaster

A firm favourite at Disney Studios and because of that no matter what time of year it is you will queue for this one. I last went to Disneyland Paris at the beginning of February last year and we managed to get on all the rides within 20 minutes or less…except this one! We waited on average 45 minutes to an hour to get on it, the reason being is because it’s designed perfectly for the whole family. It’s fast and twisty enough for older children and adults to enjoy but not too fast and twisty that younger children will get scared on it.

It’s a fantastic ride which is themed around Finding Nemo, following his buddy Crush on his journey on the EAC dude (you get it Nemo fans!). Riders get into a Turtle shell carriage at Sydney Harbour and are transported on the ‘EAC’ through an ocean of cool special effects. My advice would be if you’re visiting the studios, get there when it opens and make it your first stop, it might be the only time you manage to get on it if your strapped for time on your visit.

Image courtesy of www.freizeitpark-welt.de

Image courtesy of www.disneylandparis.es

10) Buffalo Bill Show

Hosted by the legendary Buffalo Bill and featuring famous faces, such as Chief Sitting Bull, Annie Oakley and the Rough Riders, enjoy this live Wild West show as it re-enacts fabled moments from the frontier through stunning shootouts and sensational stunts. Mickey and friends also make an appearance to help cheer on the crowds. The show is the perfect end to a day of riding roller coasters and you even get treated to a bowl of chilli whilst you watch the show.

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About the author

Hi! I'm Mel a full-time Marketeer and part-time adventurer. I’m a British travel blogger who loves nothing more than immersing myself in different cultures and exploring new places. My goal is to inspire all of you office dwellers to follow your travel dreams whilst still working your 9-5.